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Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Deepfake of South African epidemiologist misleads on Covid-19 vaccine safety
'This is a 'MUST SHARE VIDEO' to ALL SOUTH AFRICANS,' reads text superimposed on a TikTok video that was shared more than 28,000 times before it was deleted. The 4-minute video, which looks like a news report by the state's broadcaster, SABC, shows news anchor Oliver Dickson seemingly saying: 'Renowned epidemiologist Salim Abdool Karim raises the alarm.' 'Everyone who received the COVID vaccine may be facing deadly danger. Doctors from around the world are beginning to expose the terrifying truth about side effects that were previously carefully hidden,' he seemingly adds, before introducing Karim. Karim then appears on screen and seemingly claims that South African senior forensic pathologist and author Hestelle van Staden had been finding 'unusual, rubbery, worm-like white clots in vaccinated deceased individuals' since 2021. According to the video, Van Staden documented these findings with photos, but they were suppressed. It asserts that nearly all bodies with these clots 'died from heart attacks, strokes, or sudden cardiac arrest,' and that she discovered an "undeniable link to vaccination". Lastly, it promotes a new formulation of blood cleansers to prevent vaccine-related complications. The video was also shared on Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. Karim, director of the Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research (Caprisa), became a household name in South Africa as a government advisor during the Covid-19 pandemic (archived here and here). He frequently appeared on television, offering advice and updates to the public. However, the video purportedly showing Karim denouncing vaccines was digitally altered, and Van Staden has refuted the claims made about her. AFP Fact Check conducted a Google keyword search for Karim's TV appearances and found the original SABC news report published on the channel's official YouTube channel on February 9, 2025 (archived here). The YouTube video is titled: 'Impact of Trump orders on NGOs: Prof Salim Abdool Karim.' The reporter can be seen wearing the same navy blue blazer and beige tie as in the TikTok video. The TikTok video uses the same footage but is slightly cropped, obscuring details such as the pins on the lapel of Karim's jacket and his red tie. There is no mention of Covid-19 vaccines in the original 6-minute SABC report, which talks about how the US funding cuts would affect HIV treatment in South Africa. None of what they appear to say in the TikTok video is heard in the original footage. Several clues indicate that the TikTok video is a deepfake — Dickson's and Karim's distorted mouth movements, unnatural pauses mid-sentences, and the slightly robotic tones from both speakers. This suggests that the TikTok video was created using AI tools, using the existing YouTube video as a base, and then using prompts to generate new mouth movements and audio. 'The claim that I found blood clots in vaccinated individuals is complete nonsense,' Van Staden wrote in an email to AFP Fact Check on July 2, 2025, adding that she didn't take any of the blood clot photos shown in the video. She clarified that in 2021, she had 'absolutely no idea' about a person's vaccination status and that she 'mainly performed autopsies on almost exclusively unnatural deaths,' such as those from motor vehicle accidents or gunshots. Van Staden said it was outside her 'scope of practice to comment on any links (whether true or not) between vaccines and clotting abnormalities.' 'I would never make claims such as these — it is not my area of expertise at all,' she said. The forensic pathologist was made aware of the deepfake video by industry colleagues and friends. 'It is an absolute frustration that I have to deal with this kind of junk — it places me in a precarious position, and I take exception that someone attempted to pull me into this kind of scam,' Van Staden added. Regarding the promotion of blood cleansers, she advised consulting a registered medical practitioner rather than relying on advice found on the internet. She previously dismissed the claims via a Facebook post on June 24, 2025 (archived here). SABC news reporter Dickson also commented on the deepfake in a video posted to X on June 23, 2025 (archived here). 'PSA! A fake deep video of me interviewing Dr Abdool Karim about a deadly COVID vaccine is circulating on TikTok, Facebook and is being shared widely on WhatsApp (sic),' reads the post. It adds: 'It's a fake video with false information. Please do not spread it any further and please report accounts that share it.' 'I've interviewed him many times over my career, but certainly not about a Covid vaccine that is killing people,' Dickson says in an accompanying video. 'I don't even sound like the person in the video. It's my face, it's not my voice, and I really hope that you don't fall for the scam.' PSA! A fake deep video of me interviewing Dr Abdool Karim about a deadly COVID vaccine is circulating on TikTok, Facebook and is being shared widely on WhatsApp. It's a fake video with false information. Please do not spread it any further and please report accounts that share it — Oliver Dickson (@Oliver_Speaking) June 23, 2025 Karim's organisation, Caprisa, also denounced the false video in an X post (archived here) published on June 24, 2025. 'CAPRISA wishes to distance itself from the latest incident of misinformation wherein Prof. Salim Abdool Karim is purported to be spreading inaccurate information on COVID-19 vaccines & its related side effects. Evidence based medicine is the bedrock for informed health decisions,' reads the post. CAPRISA wishes to distance itself from the latest incident of misinformation wherein Prof. Salim Abdool Karim is purported to be spreading inaccurate information on COVID-19 vaccines & its related side effects. Evidence based medicine is the bedrock for informed health decisions. — CAPRISA (@CAPRISAOfficial) June 24, 2025 Finally, South Africa's health department said (archived here) that the video 'intentionally spreads disinformation with false anti-vaccine claims, aimed at deceiving the public and undermining public health efforts.' View this post on Instagram A post shared by National Department of Health (@departmentofhealth_za) A blood clot that appears after vaccination is called vaccine-induced thrombosis. According to South Africa's National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), "the most serious of these clots tend to occur in large veins in the brain and abdomen, while the platelets (that would normally be part of the clotting process) drop dangerously low as well" (archived here). This is called Vaccine-Induced Thrombotic Thrombocytopenia: 'an extremely rare condition, but local experts and treatments are available.' There were reports of higher risks of thrombosis linked to the AstraZeneca and Janssen vaccines released early in the coronavirus pandemic (archived here and here). This led to restrictions on these shots in several countries, including the United States and France, even as public health organisations such as the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) noted that cases were rare (archived here, here and here). The NICD states that if you experience any of the symptoms listed on its website, including a persistent headache, abdominal pain or chest pain, you should seek emergency care immediately: 'A blood test will check if your platelets are low.' AFP Fact Check has previously debunked misleading claims linking vaccines to clots found in corpses by embalmers, as well as allegations that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) admitted Pfizer's mRNA vaccine caused thrombosis, which lacked context regarding the research. Read more AFP Fact Check reporting on vaccine misinformation here.
Daily Maverick
01-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Maverick
Deepfake of renowned SA physician used to promote bogus heart medicine
''The [deepfake video] has me saying anti-vax things… This company has just pounced on me, and they're not letting me go,' said Abdool Karim. A deepfake video, generated using artificial intelligence (AI) technology, is using the likeness of the renowned South African physician Prof Salim Abdool Karim to push disinformation about Covid-19 vaccines and promote a bogus heart medicine on social media. Abdool Karim, the director of the Centre for the Aids Programme of Research in South Africa (Caprisa), has refuted the contents of the video and reiterated that Covid-19 vaccines are safe. advertisement Don't want to see this? Remove ads 'The [deepfake video] has me saying anti-vax things… This company has just pounced on me, and they're not letting me go. They are using me, and I think they're using me because it's good for their sales,' Abdool Karim told Daily Maverick. Caprisa said, 'Neither Abdool Karim nor Caprisa have endorsed any medicines for any company.' Snake-oil remedy It's the second time the scam company has used an AI deepfake video of Abdool Karim to market its product, with the previous video emerging around September last year. Before that, it used a still image of him on posters for the fake cure, shared on social media. The most recent deepfake video gives the appearance of an SABC news report in which Abdool Karim responds to a presenter. The AI-generated Abdool Karim gives a false account of blood clots linked to Covid-19 vaccines, before encouraging viewers to 'cleanse' their blood vessels using 'a unique formula, breakthrough remedy, that dissolves all types of clots after just one treatment cycle'. Despite the continued misuse of his identity, Abdool Karim said that little legal recourse could be pursued against those responsible. advertisement Don't want to see this? Remove ads 'When [the adverts] first came out, I was furious and I said, 'I'm going to spare no cost in going after these guys'… We hired people to go and investigate it. We spent quite a bit of money, and when … we were getting close to figuring things out, we realised actually, this is best described by a fairground game called Whack-a-Mole,' he said. 'When you try to stop one, another emerges. So, there's no end to this.' The investigating team linked the scam to a Tanzanian company with a warehouse in Midrand, Johannesburg, but just as it narrowed down its search, the operation closed down and disappeared. A few weeks later, another advert using Abdool Karim's image emerged, seemingly shared by the same group. 'We tried to take out an injunction against them, but it proved to be a real challenge because we don't know who we're taking out an injunction against,' said Abdool Karim. 'I realised you actually have no legal recourse against these people, because it's not an established firm. It's not trading on any reputation. It's trading on my reputation because they have no reputation of their own. They're just a fly-by-night… There's nothing that creates an opportunity for us because they're not legal.' The scam company uses paid adverts on Facebook to circulate its marketing material, according to Abdool Karim. From there, users of the platform share the posters or videos on other social media platforms, including WhatsApp. After each advert, Abdool Karim gets up to 20 emails from members of the public seeking to buy the fake medicine, or reporting side effects as a result of its use. advertisement Don't want to see this? Remove ads advertisement Don't want to see this? Remove ads 'No stone unturned' In a statement released on Thursday, 26 June, the National Department of Health said it was aware of the AI-generated video of Abdool Karim that undermined the safety of Covid-19 vaccines. 'According to our information, these actions are meant to hoodwink members of the public into buying fake heart medicine. This is done through mail order, and the fake product is obviously not working or is making people feel even sicker,' said the health department. 'Minister [of Health Dr Aaron] Motsoaledi condemns in the strongest terms possible the fake news campaign by these charlatans with business interests, who for their nefarious reasons are determined to create confusion among the people for the sake of immoral profiteering.' Motsoaledi encouraged the public to rely on vaccines approved by the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (Sahpra) and the National Department of Health. The department said it would leave 'no stone unturned' in combating the efforts of the scam company. Caprisa urged members of the public to: Refer to credible sources such as Caprisa, Sahpra, the Department of Health or a trusted, registered healthcare professional for accurate health information; Verify the authenticity of health claims, products and possible actions that are being recommended; Report any instances of fake news found online directly to the hosting social media platform, such as X, Facebook or TikTok; and Refrain from sharing fake news images, videos or messaging on mobile chat groups. Social media and health disinformation Abdool Karim noted that while there was a long history of disinformation in health, recent years had seen these narratives becoming more organised. Those sharing disinformation no longer had to depend on mainstream media, where fact-checking acted as a barrier to many false claims. advertisement Don't want to see this? Remove ads advertisement Don't want to see this? Remove ads 'Covid was a turning point, and what [happened during] Covid was that disinformation … became organised and it became amplified through social media,' he said. The 'moguls of social media' had effectively resisted controls and regulations on their platforms, said Abdool Karim, citing the example of a recent development in Canada where the government rescinded a tax on big US technology firms due to US President Donald Trump threatening to call off negotiations over a trade deal. 'That just tells you how much [Trump] is in the pocket of these social media moguls, and they will not tolerate any regulation. They will fight regulation in any country … because they see it as … affecting their bottom line,' he said. 'All of these companies have now either reduced or completely eliminated their curation and fact checking… I actually don't hold out much hope that we can reasonably regulate and control these big companies. Every indication is the opposite. They control everyone else.' Reflecting on the changes that could reduce the spread of disinformation on virtual platforms, Abdool Karim said there should be a warning label on social media pages that had not been fact-checked, showing that the content may not be true. advertisement Don't want to see this? Remove ads 'The second thing is that I think we need to educate the next group of youngsters that they should have a high level of healthy scepticism when they go on to social media platforms because I worry that they think it's all real, and that they get sucked into these fake worlds,' he said. 'We have to educate the next generation to understand that everything they see [on social media] should be taken first and foremost … as a lie.' DM
The Citizen
01-07-2025
- Health
- The Citizen
Government warns public about Covid-19 vaccine disinformation
Minister of Health Dr Aaron Motsoaledi expressed concern over what he describes as a 'sustained campaign of misinformation and disinformation about Covid-19 vaccine', allegedly driven by financial interests and AI-generated content. His comments follow the circulation of a deepfake video that appears to show an SABC interview between news anchor Oliver Dickson and renowned scientist Professor Salim Abdool Karim, the director of the Centre for the Aids Programme of Research in South Africa (Caprisa). In the manipulated footage, Abdool Karim falsely claims Covid-19 vaccines are harmful and have caused deaths. 'The latest fake news campaign, driven by AI applications, has targeted a distinguished SA scientist, Abdool Karim, who is portrayed as warning the public about the supposedly deadly effects of Covid-19 vaccines that, in fact, saved many lives during the pandemic,' the department said in a statement. ALSO READ: SA psychologist calls for mental health in schools The department linked the video to individuals with commercial motives promoting untested products disguised as alternative medicine. 'These people are spreading distorted and malicious information about the alleged dangers of Covid-19 vaccines to promote harmful remedies that pose a serious risk to public health,' the department warned. According to the department's findings, the video is part of a broader effort to market fake heart medication via mail order. These products are ineffective and could worsen the health of unsuspecting users. Caprisa and Abdool Karim have publicly discredited the video, marking the circulating clips as 'fake news'. The department has joined efforts to raise public awareness, issuing alerts on social media and encouraging citizens to report and reject harmful content. ALSO READ: Gauteng Health empowers staff with training to enhance patient care 'Minister Motsoaledi strongly condemns this fake news campaign led by charlatans who, for selfish gain, aim to sow confusion and mistrust among the public,' the department stated. Motsoaledi urged South Africans to remain cautious of false remedies, particularly those claiming to 'cleanse blood vessels' or 'enhance heart performance'. He emphasised that all Covid-19 vaccines approved in SA had undergone rigorous safety testing and are authorised by both the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority and the Department of Health. 'The minister calls on all South Africans to stand together, reject these deceptive forces, and help combat the spread of misinformation in the interest of public safety,' the statement concluded. For reliable updates, visit At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
01-07-2025
- Health
- The Citizen
Health Minister warns public about Covid-19 vaccine disinformation
Minister of Health Dr Aaron Motsoaledi expressed concern over what he describes as a 'sustained campaign of misinformation and disinformation about Covid-19 vaccine', allegedly driven by financial interests and AI-generated content. His comments follow the circulation of a deepfake video that appears to show an SABC interview between news anchor Oliver Dickson and renowned scientist Professor Salim Abdool Karim, the director of the Centre for the Aids Programme of Research in South Africa (Caprisa). In the manipulated footage, Abdool Karim falsely claims Covid-19 vaccines are harmful and have caused deaths. 'The latest fake news campaign, driven by AI applications, has targeted a distinguished SA scientist, Abdool Karim, who is portrayed as warning the public about the supposedly deadly effects of Covid-19 vaccines that, in fact, saved many lives during the pandemic,' the department said in a statement. ALSO READ: SA psychologist calls for mental health in schools The department linked the video to individuals with commercial motives promoting untested products disguised as alternative medicine. 'These people are spreading distorted and malicious information about the alleged dangers of Covid-19 vaccines to promote harmful remedies that pose a serious risk to public health,' the department warned. According to the department's findings, the video is part of a broader effort to market fake heart medication via mail order. These products are ineffective and could worsen the health of unsuspecting users. Caprisa and Abdool Karim have publicly discredited the video, marking the circulating clips as 'fake news'. The department has joined efforts to raise public awareness, issuing alerts on social media and encouraging citizens to report and reject harmful content. ALSO READ: Gauteng Health empowers staff with training to enhance patient care 'Minister Motsoaledi strongly condemns this fake news campaign led by charlatans who, for selfish gain, aim to sow confusion and mistrust among the public,' the department stated. Motsoaledi urged South Africans to remain cautious of false remedies, particularly those claiming to 'cleanse blood vessels' or 'enhance heart performance'. He emphasised that all Covid-19 vaccines approved in SA had undergone rigorous safety testing and are authorised by both the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority and the Department of Health. 'The minister calls on all South Africans to stand together, reject these deceptive forces, and help combat the spread of misinformation in the interest of public safety,' the statement concluded. For reliable updates, visit At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
01-07-2025
- Health
- The Citizen
Health minister slams fake video spreading Covid-19 vaccine misinformation
Minister of Health Dr Aaron Motsoaledi expressed concern over what he describes as a 'sustained campaign of misinformation and disinformation about Covid-19 vaccine', allegedly driven by financial interests and AI-generated content. His comments follow the circulation of a deepfake video that appears to show an SABC interview between news anchor Oliver Dickson and renowned scientist Professor Salim Abdool Karim, the director of the Centre for the Aids Programme of Research in South Africa (Caprisa). In the manipulated footage, Abdool Karim falsely claims Covid-19 vaccines are harmful and have caused deaths. 'The latest fake news campaign, driven by AI applications, has targeted a distinguished SA scientist, Abdool Karim, who is portrayed as warning the public about the supposedly deadly effects of Covid-19 vaccines that, in fact, saved many lives during the pandemic,' the department said in a statement. ALSO READ: Education Minister condemns Bedfordview school assault (video) The department linked the video to individuals with commercial motives promoting untested products disguised as alternative medicine. 'These people are spreading distorted and malicious information about the alleged dangers of Covid-19 vaccines to promote harmful remedies that pose a serious risk to public health,' the department warned. According to the department's findings, the video is part of a broader effort to market fake heart medication via mail order. These products are ineffective and could worsen the health of unsuspecting users. Caprisa and Abdool Karim have publicly discredited the video, marking the circulating clips as 'fake news'. ALSO READ: Illegal connections are the main impact for load reduction – Minister of Electricity The department has joined efforts to raise public awareness, issuing alerts on social media and encouraging citizens to report and reject harmful content. 'Minister Motsoaledi strongly condemns this fake news campaign led by charlatans who, for selfish gain, aim to sow confusion and mistrust among the public,' the department stated. Motsoaledi urged South Africans to remain cautious of false remedies, particularly those claiming to 'cleanse blood vessels' or 'enhance heart performance'. He emphasised that all Covid-19 vaccines approved in SA had undergone rigorous safety testing and are authorised by both the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority and the Department of Health. 'The minister calls on all South Africans to stand together, reject these deceptive forces, and help combat the spread of misinformation in the interest of public safety,' the statement concluded. For reliable updates, visit At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
